And then?"

I argued with him a little. 'They are public roads!' I said.

'That's it,' said he. 'You spoil them for the public.'

'Very well,' said I, 'I'll take the fields,' and then, up leapt others

from behind a hedge and said, 'These fields are private.'

'Curse your public and private,' I said, 'I'm going to my Princess,'

and I stooped down and picked him up very gently--kicking and

shouting--and put him out of my way. In a minute all the fields about me

seemed alive with running men. I saw one on horseback galloping beside

me and reading something as he rode--shouting it. He finished and turned

and galloped away from me--head down. I couldn't make it out. And then

behind me I heard the crack of guns."

Guns!"

Guns--just as they shoot at the rats. The bullets came through the air

with a sound like things tearing: one stung me in the leg."

"And you?"

"Came on to you here and left them shouting and running and shooting

behind me. And now--"

284

The Food of the Gods and How It Came to Earth